Author Topic: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys  (Read 12461 times)

Area 10

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #30 on: July 31, 2014, 12:44:49 PM »
And we Europeans have our first M2O winner in Sonni.

Canary Islands is Europe? And Sonni has lived on Maui so long that her lilting Canary accent fits around a lot of pidgin.
Sonni is German. Germany is a part of Europe. She has spent most of her life in the Canary Islands, which is a part of Spain (also a European country) and the Canarian currency is the Euro. Many European watersports professionals base themselves in the Canary Islands because the surf is so good and it is warm all year round. Eric Terrien is another. If you were intending to win the M2O it would be sensible to train extensively in the Hawaiian Islands. That wouldn't change your nationality or heritage.
I knew that about the Canary Islands, but didn't realize that about Germany.  I always thought Germany was in Scandinavia, not Europe.
I'm sure you and PB are geographically enlightened individuals. But some of your countrymen are not so gifted, and I wrote my comment with them in mind as well as you. For example, things I have been asked by US tourists this year alone are:

1. "Is France in London?"
2. (In London) "Can I catch a cab from here to Paris?"
3. (Mr Angry, in London, clutching a wad of Euros) "Why won't the shop accept my money?"
4. "You have credit cards in Europe?"

There's no reason I guess why anyone from the US should know these things. But equally you can't be surprised when I don't assume everyone in the US does.

covesurfer

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #31 on: July 31, 2014, 01:10:17 PM »
What happened to Joe Bark?

From passed down sources... not even 2nd or third hand so you know how that goes.  But a radio call was apparently sent out from the boat of prone paddler Bark about harassment by a shark.  Also in the rumor mill was that one team pulled out after multiple bumpings and a shark even sliding a bit on to the top of the board.  Then there was the famous radio personality Bob Arnot, bringing up the far rear of the pack of channel challengers.  He in his infinite wisdom chose to ride a standamaran with limited to no real experience on it.  He apparently fell into it at one point, whacking the side of his jaw and knocking a molar clean out.  With ensuing evacuation of blood from his mouth, he also reportedly had visitors from the deep.

Then I heard that the Bark story was BS.  So who knows.

I saw Dr. Bob at the awards dinner. He looked like he was perhaps medicated but in some pretty high level pain. Both his lower legs were wrapped in gauze. He definitely had a post-combat look going on.

You know how it is out there, the clean up crew is always around, mostly just out of our sight. I was very careful to not open any skin up climbing back onto the board after falling. I've bled before on Maliko runs from pretty small wounds and it sketches me out. Definitely something to avoid on a channel crossing if at all possible. Our changes in water more than 2000 feet deep required jumping off the boat into open water with no hesitation. I did not let myself think about Count Bassie at all.

PonoBill

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #32 on: July 31, 2014, 02:25:40 PM »
Sometimes I think the average IQ in the US is well below average. I'd guess that fewer than five percent of Americans could find almost any country other than the US on a map. I was recently talking to a girl (meaning younger than 30) who had just spent two weeks in Morroco. I said "I've never been to Africa". She said "Me neither." I said "Morocco is in North Africa." She said "No it isn't, it's in Turkey."

End of conversation.

So we're all pretty much agreed that Dr. Bob Arnot is totally nuts. He's certainly willing to give it a go, even when he shouldn't. I respect the notion, and the drive, but not the execution. He's going to get himself killed.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

kayadogg

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #33 on: July 31, 2014, 02:47:07 PM »
That was Dr. Bob's 3rd crossing, maybe his last?

Bean

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #34 on: July 31, 2014, 04:27:23 PM »
Sometimes I think the average IQ in the US is well below average. I'd guess that fewer than five percent of Americans could find almost any country other than the US on a map. I was recently talking to a girl (meaning younger than 30) who had just spent two weeks in Morroco. I said "I've never been to Africa". She said "Me neither." I said "Morocco is in North Africa." She said "No it isn't, it's in Turkey."

End of conversation.

So we're all pretty much agreed that Dr. Bob Arnot is totally nuts. He's certainly willing to give it a go, even when he shouldn't. I respect the notion, and the drive, but not the execution. He's going to get himself killed.

What, Morocco is in Africa?  Next you'll have us believe the Canaries are just 60 mi off Morocco and not even geographically close to Europe.  Please tell me that I'm right in thinking that the US Virgin Islands are somewhere around Long Island and still owned by Sir Richard Branson.

But seriously, the well publicized, struggles of of Dr. Arnot might help persuade the otherwise unprepared to pass on the M2O.

srfnff

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #35 on: August 01, 2014, 08:56:45 AM »
I thought Connor's comments as written on his blog were pretty interesting from a firsthand, front runner's perspective. http://blog.connorbaxter.com/connor-baxter-wins-the-molokai-2-oahu-world-championships/

While you Maui locals know Connor well, I've never met him personally. But when I was there in June I kept "bumping" into him. Once at Costco, at Canoe Beach and finally at Maliko where he was SUP surfing the shorebreak on what looked like about a 12' longboard. After he was done ripping, he blew past us as we were paddling out and proceeded to charge out the opening right through the reef that everyone else stays "just to the left of". It was a display of the "next levelness" that always has me in complete awe of what is possible by some very few people in this life.

And to top it off Conner is probably the least likely to be picked in a line-up of world class paddle athletes. Tall, skinny and dare I say almost sallow of complexion, he just does not look the part. Amazing!

PonoBill

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #36 on: August 01, 2014, 09:55:48 AM »
You should see him windsurf.

Pretty much everything he does in the water is at a very high level. I took him on a downwinder in the columbia a couple years ago to show him the lay of the land. there's a lot of currents and strangeness to pay attention to if you want to go fast. We got to the big set of waves at Mitchell Point (anyone who's done a few Vientos knows what I mean). He pulled into the wave, turned his board sideways and put the paddle above the swell so he could stall there and look around. If I did that it would be thirty yards before I got back to the surface. As natural to him as walking is to me.

He looks a lot more the part of world class paddler than he did a few years ago. I could almost circle my fingers around his biceps. Long, skinny, very white arms, long skinny legs and a goofy grin. He looked like someone's pesky little brother, which is exactly what he was.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

kayadogg

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #37 on: August 01, 2014, 03:57:47 PM »
I noticed in some of the M2O pictures that Connor's boat had a spare board on top.  What's the ruling on equipment problems/failure during the race?  Are they allowed to swap it out?  I know Vinnicus Martins withdrew because his rudder broke but wondering if he didn't have a backup board?

JLK

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #38 on: August 02, 2014, 12:16:50 AM »
Hope I'm not dropping in because hardly ever post anything Ive been following the zone for about a year and half and kind of just try and learn from all of you.  But its funny Ive been following so long I feel like I know you guys. Kayadog this is rule 11 -You may switch boards in the event of an equipment failure; however you may not change equipment class. In the event of equipment failure, the broken equipment must be presented to race officials to verify the failure, and a time penalty may be assessed.  The problem with that is that its hard enough for most of these guys to even get their own board up there.  Most of these boats aren't set up for board transport either most are fisherman picking up escorts because fishing isn't really paying the bills. I've been doing escorts for awhile and set up a rack system on my boat so I help out my paddlers if they need. 

Pono it was funny about how you remember Connor. A few years back before I even considered SUP I had just escorted a couple of my prone buddies for M2O while I was cleaning my boat this skinny kid politely asks if he could use my hose to wash his board.  I told him take his time no problem he thanks me and casually walks away with I believe his sister. Little while later everybody kept asking how I knew him I said I didn't everyone kept telling he just smoked everyone I was like no way not that skinny kid.

This is a short video my wife shot of me from her iPhone somewhere in the channel last weekend my 15 year old niece was all set up to take video but she got sea sick she was bummed because she never does.  But it shows how the Kaiwi isnt really a downwind and the biggest swells are coming sideways.

[img][/<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/102214048" width="500" height="889" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="">M2O Paina</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user30689317">jonluikwan</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>]

PonoBill

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #39 on: August 02, 2014, 06:39:49 AM »
I didn't know the menehunes were racing!

I tried to fix it but it stays squished:
« Last Edit: August 02, 2014, 06:42:50 AM by PonoBill »
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

headmount

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #40 on: August 02, 2014, 12:41:41 PM »
Watched it squished and it was pretty cool.  Then at the end it straightened out and was non-squished... which wasn't nearly as good.  Squished it took out all the ugly bump on the surface and glides looked longer.  Non-squished it just looked like another sloppy water paddle.  Cool effect!

yugi

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #41 on: August 02, 2014, 02:42:27 PM »
click on "Vimeo" and watch there for non-squished. Squished is cooler tho

Puamana4me

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #42 on: August 02, 2014, 04:21:34 PM »
So we're all pretty much agreed that Dr. Bob Arnot is totally nuts. He's certainly willing to give it a go, even when he shouldn't. I respect the notion, and the drive, but not the execution. He's going to get himself killed.


"If it doesn't kill you, it will only make you stronger"

LOL

( must be a guy thing, since I did the same shit to myself...go til u puke or die...then lay around in pain  and drag my wife thru my  injured sorry ass  bs )

JLK

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #43 on: August 02, 2014, 04:28:34 PM »
Sorry guys not to good at posting videos Ill get it sooner or later but the reason its skinny and squished is she was holding her phone upright instead of sideways.  My cousin is trying to put together a couple of videos when hes done I will post them.  They are not as good conditions as Maui but we got to take what we can get on Oahu.  Aloha Jon

headmount

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Re: Molokai to Oahu 7/27 -congrats Maui guys
« Reply #44 on: August 02, 2014, 09:34:08 PM »
 ;D
Sorry guys not to good at posting videos Ill get it sooner or later but the reason its skinny and squished is she was holding her phone upright instead of sideways.  My cousin is trying to put together a couple of videos when hes done I will post them.  They are not as good conditions as Maui but we got to take what we can get on Oahu.  Aloha Jon

Don't be sorry.  We're all in agreement that it was a cool effect.  I think you're on to something.

 


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